Completion Day - Tips/Things to do?

Gorecki

Hi,

Does anyone have any tips/links to previous posts on what to do/ask on completion day?
Have thought of the following questions:

- How do white goods work/any problems?
- How does heating system work/any problems?
- Are there any other keys than the ones you are giving me in circulation?
- What are the neighbours like, are there any you think we should introduce ourselves to first?
- How does rubbish collection work?
- We've bought the house now etc etc, but are there any problems we might want to look at fixing early on?
etc. etc.


Thanks for your help,

dominoman

When we bought we didn't even speak to the vendors directly. It was all through the agent and the agent wouldn't be able to answer those questions.

For me first things to do would be:

1. Change the locks.
2. Get out the hoover and give it a massive spring clean.
3. Order a takeaway pizza and crack open a bottle of wine.

DigForVictory

+1 for change the locks, no matter what you've been told.

Visit the neighbours with a couple of bottles (red & white) and a box of posh mince pies & *ask* about rubbish collection, the local tip, schools, pubs & where the cold water inlet pipe is.
(If they know where gas & elec meters are too, get another bottle!)

Clear a space or spaces to eat, wash & sleep (may be an ensuite room!) - the house isn't going anywhere, so pace yourself with any rubbish/cleaning.

Definitely let someone else cook unless one of you *really* wants to establish a territory. One drives & lurks while the other bounces in & rounds up a current takeaway menu. Aim to get all the ones in 2 miles if you can!

All the very best in your new home!

jbainbridge

All your questions should be asked BEFORE completion!

You should be checking heating / appliances / neighbours before exchange.

Once you've completed and got the keys there will be no one there to ask questions. At the very least arrange a visit before exchange/completion to ask about small things like how the heating works etc.

giraffe69

Make sure you take meter readings and best to photograph the meters using your mobile.

PasturesNew

Gorecki wrote: »

- How do white goods work/any problems?
- How does heating system work/any problems?

You might be better off popping round 2 days before completion to find this out.... on completion day you won't see the old owners and, if you do, they will be like headless chickens with what's going on, so no time for a coherent chat about stuff.

Paully232000

On completion day all we did was after the removals men had put together the beds,
make the beds,
plug in the tv
order a pizza
go to bed
everything else can wait until the next day.

then got up early the next day and
ordered new locks
meter readings
began unpacking things we couldn't do without
found manuals on the internet for appliances without one.

tiggerkid

We've just completed this week. Didn't get to speak to the vendors because they moved out some weeks ago. If you have any questions, I'd suggest you get them all answered before completion day as you may or may not be able to get the answers you need on or post completion date.

Personally, I wasn't too worried about the number of keys etc as we are planning to change all locks in the house and as previously mentioned in one of the earlier replies, I'd also suggest you consider doing the same. You wouldn't want to have even a remote possibility that someone else may have a set of keys to your house!

The one thing you should do as soon as you move in is take all meter readings at the new property to make sure that you get accurate utility bills.

Gorecki

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful. Sounds like we've left it a little late!